Compound action tool with wire stripper and bolt cutter

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses a compound action tool of the type commonly employed for crimping purposes with a wire stripper and bolt cutter being incorporated in the tool. The tool comprises a pair of handles having laterally extending ears in overlapping relation and pivotally connected. An arm is pivoted to the end of each handle and terminates in a jaw. Each arm has a lobe extending laterally towards the other arm. Each arm is formed with an arcuate slot in the region of the lobe with each slot receiving a pin on the lobe of the other arm. The end edge of each lobe is formed as a curved cam surface which is engaged by a portion of the jaw on the other arm which projects therefrom and overhangs the cam surface. A pair of plates having end portions formed as wire stripping jaws are pivotally mounted on the pivot which connects the handles. One of these plates is fixed to one handle and the other is adjustable on the other handle. An adjusting disc is pivoted on the latter handle and is connected to the adjustable plate by a pin and slot connection. A spring ratchet cooperates with the disc to secure an adjusted position of the stripping jaw controlled thereby. The arms are deformed in the regions of the lobes to provide a sliding face to face engagement of the latter. Each arm and the lobe thereon is formed with a series of openings for bolt cutting purposes.

nited States Patent [1;]

Allen 1 3,733,626 [4 1 May 22,1973

COMPOUND ACTION TOOL WITH WIRE STRIPPER AND BOLT CUTTER [57] ABSTRACT This specification discloses a compound action tool of Inventofi Irving Allemwestbrook, Conn. the type commonly employed for crimping purposes with a wire stripper and bolt cutter being incorporated [73] Assigneei S rgent and Comp ny, New Haven, in the tool. The tool comprises a pair of handles hav- Conn. ing laterally extending ears in overlapping relation and v W pivotally connected. An arm is pivoted to the end of v [22] Flled: Sept- 1971 each handle and terminates in a jaw. Each arm has a [21] APPL 182,446 lobe extending laterally towards the other arm. Each arm is formed with an arcuate slot in the region of the lobe with each slot receiving a pin on the lobe of the U.S. Cl. R, other arm The end edge of each lobe is formed as a [51] Int. Cl ..H02g 1/12, 825!) 7/22 curved cam surface which is engaged by a portion of [58] Field of Search ..8l/9.5 R, 350, 351; the jaw on the other arm which projects therefrom 30/90.1; 7/51, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 14.1 R and overhangs the cam surface.

V V A pair of plates having end portions formed as wire [56] References Cited stripping jaws are pivotally mounted on the pivot which connects the handles. One of these plates is W n Y fixed to one handle and the other is adjustable on the UNITED STATES PATENTS other handle. An adjusting disc is pivoted on the latter v '7 V g g V J handle and is connected to the adjustable plate by a 2,229,263 1/1941 Van Keuren ..7/5.6 x p a d slot connecti A p ng ratchet co p 2,327,650 8/1943 Klein ..81/350 with the disc to secure an adjusted position of the 2,721,383 10/1955 Miller ..8l/9.5 R X stripping jaw controlled thereby. The arms are deformed in the regions of the lobes to provide a slid- Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. ing face to face engagement of the latter. Each arm Assistant ExaminerRoscoe V. Parker and the lobe thereon is formed with a series of Attorney-Schellin and Hoffman openings for bolt cutting purposes.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 33 32 /'2 34 I 46 35 4O 37 Q w as r h.

0 5 75 38 I3 0/ 14 Q 56 39 A N; a; l3. f/alf i" 49 g PATENTEDmxzzmn SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR IRVIN G A LLEN ATTORNE YS PATENTED HAY 2 2 I973 SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR IRVING ALLEN ATTORNE Y1;

COMPOUND ACTION TOOL WITH WIRE STRIPPER AND BOLT CUTTER The present invention relates to tools of the pliers type which are commonly employed for crimping purposes, and is concerned primarily with such a tool which includes a compound action for transferring compressive forces on the handles to jaws which move together and under conditions of high mechanical advantage and in which the movements of the jaws are properly oriented until work is engaged by the jaws. The invention is also concerned with a wire stripper and bolt cutting means which are incorporated into the tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tools of the general type with which the present invention is concerned are now in widespread use. A tool of one class includes a pair of handle levers each having a lateral extending ear at one end with the ears overlapping and pivotally connected. One arm having a crimping jaw at its free end is pivotally connected at its other end to each lever at the end adjacent to the ear thereon. Each of these arms is formed with a pivot hole and crosspieces extend across the arms and have pivots received in the holes. Thus a certain degree of mechanical advantage is provided. A third pivot pin is located in the region of the crosspieces and is received in recesses in the edges of the arms. This pin provides a rocking motion of the arms and serves to assist the movement of the jaws as they move together to engage the work.

The now known tools of this type are complex and the mechanical advantage afforded thereby is determined by the distance between the pivotal connection of an arm to a handle lever and the pivot pin. If a tool is to be compact the mechanical advantage is limited by this distance.

Wire stripping tools of the pliers type are also well known. A wire stripping tool includes a pair of complemental stripping jaws which cut through the insulation of a wire to be stripped. Obviously the cutting should be through the insulation only and not through any part of the conductor. Wires come in various sizes and the thickness of the insulation varies with different sized wires. In the known wire strippers the variations in the thickness of insulation is accommodated by limiting the extent to which the handles may be moved together and hence the gap between the stripping jaws as they approach one another.

There is now no known wire stripping tool in-which the handles carrying the stripping jaws are always moved into the same fully closed position regardless of the thickness of the insulation being cut with variations in insulation thickness being accommodated by an adjustment of a stripping jaw member on the handle by which it is carried.

The prior art is also lacking in a tool of the crossed lobe type which includes bolt cutting means.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing conditions in mind the present invention has in view the following objectives:

1. To provide a tool of the character aforesaid which is highly simplified.

2. To provide a tool of the type noted which is compact and which includes a novel compound action which affords a maximum of mechanical advantage for the size limitation of the compact mechanism.

3. To provide, in a tool of the kind described, a new and improved arrangement for orienting the movement of the jaws as they approach the work.

4. To provide, in a tool of the type in which closing movement of the handles is limited by abutting engagement of the main jaws thereof, a wire stripper comprising stripping jaw carrying members mounted in the handles of the tool with one of these members being adjustable on the handle in which it is mounted.

5. To provide, in a tool of the character noted, which includes wire stripping jaws, one of which is adjustable on a handle, means for securing an adjusted position of the adjustable stripping jaw, and

6. To provide, in a compound action tool of the instant type, bolt cutting means.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are achieved by providing a compound action tool comprising a pair of handle levers each having a laterally extending car at one end with the ears overlapping and pivotally connected by a pivot pin. Pivoted on the end of each lever adjacent to the ear thereon is an arm formed with a crimping jaw at its free end. Each of these arms is deformed in its central region to provide an offset portion and a lobe extends laterally from this offset portion. The lobe on one arm overlaps the offset portion of the other arm. Each arm is formed in its offset portion with an arcuate slot that receives a guide pin on the lobe of the other arm. Each lobe has an end edge including a curved cam surface. Each jaw is formed with a portion that projects from the plane of a side face thereof and engages the cam surface on the lobe of the other arm.

A plate like member is formed with a stripping jaw at one end and is fixedly mounted on one handle lever and has an opening receiving the pivot pin. A second such member has a stripping jaw complemental to the jaw on the first member. It has an opening receiving the pivot pin and is adjustable on the other lever. This adjustment is provided by a disc rotatable on the lever and operatively connected by a pin and slot connection to the adjustable stripping jaw carrying member. A spring ratchet cooperates with the disc to secure and adjusted position of this stripping jaw. The offset portions of the arms and lobes are formed with a series of holes for bolt cutting purposes.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the tool of the present invention with the handle levers and main crimping jaws fully closed.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with portions of the handle levers omitted depicting the levers and main jaws opened.

FIG. 4 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the mechanism immediately contiguous to the pivotal connection of the handle levers.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the plane of the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detailed elevation of the strippingjaws and members on which they are formed; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective of the end portions of the handle levers adjacent to the pivot therebetween in exploded relation.

Referring now to the drawings a handle lever 10 is preferably of metal and is of a channel construction provided by walls 11 connected by a back 12 with the channel opening inwardly. Lever 10 is covered by a handgrip 13. Walls 11 include enlarged or widened portions 14 from which extend lateral ears 15. End ears 16 also extend from the ends of walls 11.

A second handle lever 17 is also of channel construction provided by walls 18 and back 19 with the channel opening inwardly towards handle 10. Walls 18 are enlarged and have lateral ears 20 and end ears 21. Ears 20 are offset with respect to the widened portions of walls 18. Lever 17 is also provided with a handgrip 22.

Referring now to FIG. 6 a fixed wire stripping jaw 23 is formed in one end of a plate-like member 24 which is fixedly secured to lever 10 between walls 11 by a rivet 25 passing through slot 26 and by a pivot pin 27. An adjustable stripping jaw 28 is formed in one end of member 29 and has an opening receiving pivot pin 27. It is also formed with a slot 30 which receives a pin 31 to provide for adjusting member 29 relative to lever 17 in which it is mounted as will later be described.

As shown in FIG. 5 levers 10 and 17 are assembled with ears 20 overlapping ears 15 on the outside of the latter. Adjustable jaw member 29 is assembled on the inner face of a wall 18 of lever 17 and fixed jaw member 23 on the inner face of a wall 11 of lever 17. Pivot pin 27 passes through aligned openings in ears l5 and 20 and jaw members 24 and 29.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 an arm 32 has an end tab 33 received between end cars 16 on lever 10 and is pivotally connected thereto by pivot 34. Arm 32 has a central deformed or offset portion 35 from which extends laterally a lobe 36. It is also formed with an arcuate slot which is illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3. At the outer end of central portion 35 is a main crimping jaw 37 having an abutment face 38.

Lobe 36 is formed with a cam surface on its end at 39 and with a so-called overhanging shoulder 40. Cam surface 39 and shoulder 40 are illustrated in detail in said copending application.

A second arm 41 has an end tab 42 received between end ears 21 on lever 17 and is pivotally connected thereto by pivot pin 43. Arm 41 has a central offset portion 44 from which laterally extends a lobe 45 which engages central portion 35 of arm 31 and carries a guide pin 46 that is received in the arcuate slot in the central portion 35. Central portion 44 also has an arcuate slot (dotted lines, FIG. 3) which receives a guide pin 47 on lobe 36 which overlaps central portion 44.

A main jaw 48 is formed integrally with central portion 44 and has an abutment face corresponding to abutment face 38 of main jaw 37 with which it engages when the main jaws are fully closed. Main jaw 48 has an overhanging shoulder at 49 which engages and rides on cam surface 39 of lobe 35. It also has a cam surface engaged by overhanging shoulder 40 on main jaw 37.

The cam surfaces and overhanging shoulders orient the movement of the main jaws as they approach the work. Closing movement of handle levers 10 and 17 is limited by engagement of abutting surfaces 38 on the main jaws.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 a disc 50 is rotatably mounted on the inner face of a wall 18 of lever 17 by a pivot 51. Disc 50 carries pin 31 which is offset from the center of the disc and which is received in slot 30 as above described. It is evident that, as disc 50 is rotated jaw member 29 will also be rotated on pivot 27 and the distance between the stripping jaws 23 and 28 when handle levers 10 and 17 are fully closed, adjusted.

Disc 50 is formed on its circumferential edge with teeth 52. A leaf spring 53 has one end hooked over back 19 of arm 17 as shown at 54. It extends along the inner face of back 19 and at its other end is formed with a detent 55 which engages teeth 52. Detent 55 holds disc 50 in an adjusted position.

It is evident that the distance between the stripping jaws which the latter will assume when handle levers l0 and 17 are fully closed may be adjusted by rotating disc 50 and detent 55 will secure the adjusted position.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3 each of the lobes 36 and 45, and the central portions 35 and 44 from which they extend are formed with a series of holes 56 of different sizes. With the holes on one central portion and lobe in alignment with those on the other a bolt may be inserted in the aligned holes of the proper size. This aligned condition obtains when handle levers 10 and 17 are open. Upon their being contracted the bolt will be cut by a shearing action. The holes on the side where the bolts enter are threaded.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms and devices illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice.

What is claimed is:

1. In a crimping tool including a pair of handle levers, each having a laterally extending ear, with the two ears in overlapping relation and pivotally connected, an arm pivotally connected at one end to an end of each handle lever, a main jaw at the other end of each arm and having an abutment face, and means interconnecting said arms to orient the movement of said main jaws as they are moved together by contracting said handle levers, the improvement consisting of:

a. a fixed insulation stripping jaw on one handle lever having an opening receiving the pivot which connects said overlapping ears,

b. a complemental insulation stripping jaw formed on a jaw member adjustably mounted on the other handle lever and having an opening receiving the pivot connecting said overlapping ears,

c. a disc rotatable on said last mentioned handle member,

d. an operating connection between said discs and jaw membersto provide adjustment of said jaw member on the handle lever by which it is carried when said disc is rotated, and

e. means for holding said disc in an adjusted position.

2. The tool of claim 1 in which the operating connection between the disc and jaw members comprises a slot in the jaw member which receives a pin on the disc and eccentric to the center of rotation of the disc.

3. The tool of claim 1 in which the means for holding the disc in an adjusted position comprises teeth on the circumferential edge of the disc and a spring detent cooperating with the teeth and carried by the handle lever on which the disc is mounted.

4. The tool of claim 3 in which the handle levers are of channel formation including a back and the detent takes the form of a leaf spring having one end hooked over the back of the handle lever on which it is mounted with the other end of the leaf spring engaging purposes. 

1. In a crimping tool including a pair of handle levers, each having a laterally extending ear, with the two ears in overlapping relation and pivotally connected, an arm pivotally connected at one end to an end of each handle lever, a main jaw at the other end of each arm and having an abutment face, and means interconnecting said arms to orient the movement of said main jaws as they are moved together by contracting said handle levers, the improvement consisting of: a. a fixed insulation stripping jaw on one handle lever having an opening receiving the pivot which connects said overlapping ears, b. a complemental insulation stripping jaw formed on a jaw member adjustably mounted on the other handle lever and having an opening receiving the pivot connecting said overlapping ears, c. a disc rotatable on said last mentioned handle member, d. an operating connection between said discs and jaw membersto provide adjustment of said jaw member on the handle lever by which it is carried when said disc is rotated, and e. means for holding said disc in an adjusted position.
 2. The tool of claim 1 in which the operating connection between the disc and jaw members comprises a slot in the jaw member which receives a pin on the disc and eccentric to the center of rotation of the disc.
 3. The tool of claim 1 in which the means for holding the disc in an adjusted position comprises teeth on the circumferential edge of the disc and a spring detent cooperating with the teeth and carried by the handle lever on which the disc is mounted.
 4. The tool of claim 3 in which the handle levers are of channel formation including a back and the detent takes the form of a leaf spring having one end hooked over the back of the handle lever on which it is mounted with the other end of the leaf spring engaging said teeth.
 5. The tool of claim 1 in which each arm has a central offset portion and a lobe extending laterally therefrom with the lobe on one arm overlapping the offset portion of the other arm, and a series of openings of different sizes on each offset portion and lobe, the openings on one offset portion and lobe aligning with the openings in the other offset portion and lobe when the handle lEvers are open, each pair of said aligned openings being adapted to receive a bolt of a particular size for cutting purposes. 